Mental Health Resources

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Crisis response, outreach and educational efforts were provided to schools, communities, and families throughout the region. These resources are intended to help families better understand child and adolescent stress responses and resiliency-building strategies to use with children so that they can better cope and heal from traumatic events.

Children and Traumatic Stress - English | Arabic: To answer essential questions about the impact of a traumatic experience on a child, the ICHOC has developed the "Children and Traumatic Stress" fact sheet. Normal reactions, symptoms of more serious emotional problems, and ways to help children recover are discussed.

Preparing Your Family for Disasters - Brochure, Fact Sheet: When a traumatic event threatens your family, there are important basic ways that you can prepare yourself and your children.

Children and War: How Can We Help?: In response to children's questions and fears about war, "Children and War: How Can We Help?" is designed to help parents and teachers talk to children about war. ICHOC has created this resource with frequently asked questions, warning signs and suggested coping strategies to use with children.

Talking with Children About a Flu Pandemic: There has been a lot of concern in the international media recently about the avian flu and the possibility that it could cause a human flu pandemic. The ICHOC has developed the "Talking with Children about a Flue Pandemic" fact sheet to help adults answer children's questions about the flu.

Helping Children Cope After a School Shooting: In response to a school shooting tragedy, many children may have questions and concerns. Helping Children Cope After a School Shooting offers suggestions to help guide parents, teachers, and other caring adults to best support children who may be grieving, concerned, or troubled by a school shooting.

Helping Children Cope in the Aftermath of a Hurricane: Recent severe hurricanes have been very traumatic for our nation's children. The "Helping Children Cope in the Aftermath of a Hurricane" fact sheet discusses the impact of hurricanes on young people and provides suggestions for how to help them cope after a hurricane has disrupted their lives.

Children and Flying Fears: Being in an airplane can be scary for children. Some children are more fearful about flying now than in the past because they are aware that airplanes have been targeted by terrorists. The "Children and Flying Fears" fact sheet provides tips that adults can sue to help relieve children's fears and make air travel less scary.

For schools and teachers

Being Disaster Ready: Recommendations for Schools: This fact sheet contains recommendations for schools to help them become prepared for traumatic events so that they can respond effectively if an actual event occurs. Educational programs for staff, resiliency programs for students, community communication plans, and disaster drills are discussed.

Responding to a Crisis: Tips for Schools: This fact sheet contains tips for actions a school should take during the first critical moments after a traumatic event occurs in a school, through to longer term, recovery-oriented actions. It also includes practical tips for dealing with the media during a school crisis.

Disaster Self Care Action Plan for School Teachers: This fact sheet walks teachers through the preparations they should make for the possibility of a future traumatic event and provides a checklist of recommended actions for taking care of their mental health after an event has occurred.

Jamie's Story

"We cannot thank Children's National enough for diagnosing and treating Jamie. Yes, it was hard to swallow that our child had a mental illness, but we finally had a diagnosis with which to work from. "